Elf [Book One of The Elf Chronicles]

I'll take care of Lowry. He limped silently to the door, peered out, then, with barely a squeak from the crutches, vanished through the gap.
  Quist, we need to talk - Mac began earnestly.
 Not now, you fool! How am I supposed to watch Zander's back, if you're blabbing at my front?
 Quist shook his head impatiently, then followed Zander out the door.
 Mac grinned, and for the first time in days, actually relaxed. In seconds, he was asleep, the smile still on his face.

***

 Where have you been?! Quist asked. He'd spent the last two hours searching, and he could swear he'd visited every room on this floor. He was feeling better, but he wasn't that much better. If I'd keeled over in the Ladies, it would have been all your fault, he hissed.
 Zander snorted, and leaned the crutches against the bed. Go away. I'm tired. He flopped back on the pillow.
 Quist propped Zander's bad leg up on a pillow. You're never tired. You've been up to no good.
 Yes. And no. Go away, he repeated.
 This have to do with Lowry? Zander's eyes were closed, but Quist knew he wasn't asleep. Will it work?
 I hope so, Zander said seriously. Quist could tell he was worried. It should, if I read my chart right.
 And if not?
 He's dying, Quist.
 What the hell did you do?!
 Made a decision. Now, please, Zander said tiredly, just go away and let me sleep.
 Quist stood there looking at him for a moment. He did look tired. What had he been up to? Suddenly worried, he dug around in his pocket and pulled out a couple of the garlic cloves he'd saved for Mac. Zand?
 Yeah?
 The man was barely awake.
 Have some garlic.
 Zander took one and popped it in his mouth. Needed that, he said, chewing. Thanks.
 Quist stood there uncertainly. Just don't do it any more, okay?
 Zander re-opened his eyes wide enough to see Quist's face. He smiled. Wouldn't dream of it, he said.

***

 Quist prowled through Zander's house, disgusted with himself for complying with Mac's paranoia, and wishing he were doing any one of the half-dozen things he had lined up for the evening. He looked at the array of books on Zander's shelves and shook his head. Texts and journals and theses - crap and more crap - on botany and plant physiology and fungi and viruses. Not an interesting book in sight.
 He knew Zander had better taste than that. On a hunch, he opened the cupboard beneath the bookshelves and grinned as a mass of books and magazines spilled out onto the floor. They'd been crammed in there so tightly it was a wonder the doors could close.
 He pocketed a detective novel and a couple of game mags, then slammed one of the doors and shovelled things back in behind it. The house was pretty tidy, considering this was Zander. Quist was lucky enough to come up with a clean shirt and a semi-clean pair of pants for him. It'd do for the ride home.
 He walked through the room one last time, snatching up several of Zander's DVDs as he went. A couple of movies and a game or two tonight sounded just about right. He wasn't up to an abundance of exercise quite yet.
 He glanced around, then sighed. He and Mac would have to have this out. There was nothing here for Mac to worry about. No psychopathic killers, no freak tornadoes, no black dogs. Just Zander's messy house, and a lot of silence.
 Quist left, locking the door securely behind him.

***

 You loaned me some of your DVDs, Quist told Zander the next morning. Oh, and a trashy detective novel, too.
 How generous of me. Tried out any of those cheats?
 Quist tilted his head to look at him strangely. 'Cheats'?
 In the Gamestar.
 Quist grinned.  I don't need any stinking game rag to -
 Which issue'd you borrow?
 Two, actually. June and September.
 Zander nodded.